Jamaica Faces Its Own ‘Lights Out’ Risk, Lessons Emerging from Cuba’s Energy Crisis

A crisis born of politics in Cuba, and one shaped by storms and seismic risk in Jamaica, both reveal the same fault line, a fragile energy system that can shut down homes, halt development, and redefi

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• Cuba’s blackout crisis shows what happens when energy systems fail under pressure

• Jamaica has faced its own “lights out” moments through hurricanes, grid strain, and seismic risk

• Different causes, same outcome, homes, infrastructure, and daily life disrupted

• Energy resilience is now a housing and real estate issue, not just a utility concern

• Renewable transition is no longer optional, it is about stability, cost, and control

• The real question, will Jamaica act before the next system shock, or after it

Cuba’s recent nationwide blackouts, triggered by an external energy squeeze and a fragile grid, have exposed a vulnerability that Jamaica, despite different geopolitical circumstances, has already experienced in its own way through hurricanes, infrastructure shocks, and ongoing seismic risk, raising questions about whether the island is doing enough to build long-term energy and housing resilience.

A new analysis suggests Cuba could secure up to 93 percent of its e…